Official: Cambodian waters still open

CHONBURI, Thailand, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Cambodian coastal waters remain open to Thai fishing vessels, Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh said Friday.

Banh appeared at a news conference with Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, his Thai counterpart, as the two-day General Border Committee meeting between the two countries ended, the Thai News Agency reported. The committee met in Chonburi in coastal Thailand.

"I reaffirm that we will try to avoid doing things which affect the daily life and the living of peoples to prevent any dispute," Banh said. "There has been some adjustment of concession regulations recently, and if the license has expired, fishermen can ask for renewal of their license without any problem."

Officials said the committee meeting was amicable despite recent tension between the two countries, the Bangkok Post reported. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen recently named ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser.